Breckenridege uphill-access users in the doghouse

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Breckenridge Ski Resort is calling out uphill-access users after reports of misbehaving dogs accompanying their owners on excursions before the ski area opens.

Resort employees said many owners are failing to clean up after their dogs when skinning up the mountain in the mornings or to keep them under control.

"I have witnessed dogs chasing skiers, snowmobiles and snowcats," Breckenridge ski patrol director Kevin Ahern said in a statement to members of the skinning community recently. "This is an accident waiting to happen. As an avid skinner myself, I would hate to restrict our policy any more or lose the privilege all together."

The ski resort's uphill-access policy requires all dogs to be on a leash or under voice command at all times. Owners must also clean up after their dogs, the policy states.

"A lot of work goes into getting our mountain prepared for our guests each day with a limited amount of time to do so," Ahern stated. "Please be respectful of our employees trying to get their job done at night and early morning."

Dogs are not allowed on ski area terrain at all when the lifts are running, Breckenridge's policy states.

The ski resort allows people to skin, snowshoe or hike up the mountain for free before the lifts open and in the evenings after ski patrol has finished its final sweep for the night. Many skiers and snowboarders take advantage of the opportunity to get early morning runs.